Diana Duncan's blog

Hey, I see that my moving crew has arrived!
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Growing up as an Air Force brat, I dreaded the constant moving. Often without much notice, we had to box up our possessions, yank out deeply planted roots and leave behind dear friends and favorite places.
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We never knew what we’d find at the end of the long trip. Would our new house be just right or too small? Would our new teachers be nice or mean? Would the new neighborhood kids be friendly or shut us out? Could we find new doctors, dentists, hair stylists we trusted?
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I hate the unknown. I’m a compulsive planner, one of those squirrely nesters who lives to check items off my alphabetized, color-coded to-do lists, and paint and wallpaper and sew to make my surroundings cozy and comfortable. I like to settle in and stay put. I never went willingly into that good night. I was raised to believe military families did their duty and didn’t whine about it, but I shed plenty of private tears. Unlike my heroines, I’m so not adventurous. I fear change.
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I've been emailing back and forth with a reader from another part of the world for well over a year. She wrote to me after my first 24 hour book came out, and we struck up a rapport, because her fiancé had the same name as one of my heroes. She's been filling me in on upcoming wedding plans and the building of their little newlywed cottage by her fiancé and his brothers.

Then in January, I got an email saying her fiancé had leukemia. They were optimistic as he began chemo. In May, the news wasn't so good...his leukemia was not responding to any of the drugs.

Last Monday, I heard from her again. He has around four weeks to live. They've married in a quiet ceremony with just their families present, and are spending their last days together treasuring every minute. But what made me sob over her message, was the part that said, "My real-life hero has made me promise that I will read to him from your upcoming book. Even if he's not with me anymore here on earth, he says he will hear me. And I will always have that special connection to him."

Starting out as a newbie writer, I gleaned my most valuable piece of advice from an online “how to” article. I wish I could remember who the author was, but I’ll never forget what she said: “Don’t hoard the good stuff.”

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Taking that to heart, I have poured every emotion, every twist, every creative fiber of my being into every single story…as if it were my only book. My final book.

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Because you just never know.

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The number one question I’m asked as an author is, "Where do you get your ideas?"

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Would you believe my Muse – who bears a strong resemblance to Vin Diesel by the way – slips them under my pillow at night when I’m sleeping?

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I wish! Diesel Muse is too capricious. The truth is, brainstorms strike at random – anywhere from inside the shower, to driving to an appointment. When an idea hits, I must immediately write it down, or the thought evaporates forever. I’ve jotted notes on napkins in restaurants, on fast food wrappers while driving (sorry, officer), on my own arm in the grocery store (talk about getting strange looks) and yes, even on toilet paper with lip-                                                     liner at a party.

.                                                    New lip-liner: $7.95. Inspiration: Priceless.

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Hi everyone, I'm so thrilled to see that SRS has our own blog! I thought I'd better do a short test drive here, because my turn at the wheel is coming up soon and I don't want to run off the road. *G*

Looking forward to chatting with everyone about my favorite series. :)